Avakian leaves private practice to rejoin SEC

After a stint with Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP as a partner in the New York office and vice chair of the firm’s securities practice, Stephanie Avakian is returning to the Securities and Exchange Commission as deputy director of its Division of Enforcement.

Before going into private practice, Avakian worked in the SEC Enforcement Division as a branch chief in the New York Regional Office and later served as a counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul Carey.

Avakian said in a statement, “I am honored and excited to return to the commission. I am looking forward to working with all of the dedicated staff in the Division of Enforcement to carry out the SEC’s mission to protect investors.”

At WilmerHale, she represented public companies, boards and individuals in a broad range of investigations and other matters before the SEC and other agencies. She obtained her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from the College of New Jersey, and her law degree magna cum laude from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.

Contributing Author

Amy I. Stickel

Amy I. Stickel has extensive experience covering the legal, financial and pharmaceutical industries as a writer and editor. A past managing editor of Corporate Legal Times and...

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